2 charged in fatal shooting in Wilmerding during marijuana buy

Allegheny County Police have arrested two suspects in the fatal shooting of a man Wednesday in Wilmerding.

Jackiel Young, 19, of Pittsburgh and Lynell Wilson-Smith, 18, of Wilmerding are each charged with criminal homicide, robbery and conspiracy in the death that investigators say occurred during a marijuana purchase.

Police in court documents identified the victim as Brandon Thompson Jr. of White Oak, no age given.

Authorities said he was shot inside a sport utility vehicle parked outside of 129 State St. in Wilmerding. He died at the scene.

Pitcairn police, who initially responded shortly before 2:15 p.m., found the victim lying outside the car, next to the passenger door, according to a criminal complaint filed by county police.

The windshield had been damaged by gunfire, spent 9 mm casings were found on the car’s rear seat and floor and suspected marijuana was found on the rear floor and next to the victim, police said.

Police said three other men fled from the car before investigators arrived.

Surveillance footage shows Thompson falling from the passenger side of the car onto the ground and the driver running away, according to the complaint. Two other men are seen exiting the rear of the car and fleeing between two houses.

Tracking with a police dog led investigators to a residence at the rear of Watkins Avenue, where police found Wilson-Smith and another man known as “Keels,” who was later identified as Young.

A witness told police the following scenario, according to the complaint: The witness drove Thompson in the SUV from Thompson’s residence to Wilmerding to “sell weed.” Two men approached the passenger side window and one of them paid Thompson for a “zip of weed.”

According to the witness, the men entered the back seat of the car during discussion of an additional marijuana buy. A gun was pressed against the back of the witness’s head by one of the men and, when the other man pulled a gun, Thompson began to fight and push the gun away.

The witness said one of the men yelled, “Shoot them, just shoot them.” The witness ran after hearing a gunshot from the back seat of the car.

Police said Wilson-Smith told them he bought marijuana from “Connect” — his name for Thompson. After Wilson-Smith and Young were both in the rear seat, Young pointed a gun at the driver.

According to the complaint, Wilson-Smith said he also got out his handgun and, when Thompson pushed on the gun, wasn’t sure if it would be taken away. Wilson-Smith said he pulled the trigger but denied that it had fired any ammunition; he claimed he later discovered it had malfunctioned, according to police.

Wilson-Smith told police he began to yell “bang him” as Thompson pushed on the gun.

Police served a search warrant at the Watkins Avenue residence, recovering three 9 mm pistols, assorted 9 mm ammunition and three bags of suspected marijuana.

Wilson-Smith estimated, after his initial buy, that between $200 and $300 worth of marijuana remained in the SUV.

Both suspects also are charged with carrying a firearm without a license.

They were denied bail and were lodged in the Allegheny County Jail. They face preliminary hearings on Aug. 30.